More Than That

Chapter 35

Sage followed him as they reached a clearing in the trees and looked around at her surroundings in awe. They were at the very top of whatever they had been climbing up and the view from the point was incredible. No matter which way she looked, she could look down at the landscape below them. There were thousands of trees that looked smaller and smaller as she looked out further and past the trees was the horizon, the sun hanging above it low in the sky. On one side of the hill that they were on, Sage could see the great lake a far distance away and on the other side a village could be seen in the distance, the buildings looking like toys from how far away they were.

She turned around to voice her amazement to Fred, but her words were taken out of her mouth when she saw that he had laid out a picnic blanket and was currently unloading a wicker basket of its contents onto the gingham fabric.

"Where the hell did all that come from?" she asked in both awe and confusion.

Fred grinned up at her. "Shrinking charms."

Sage scoffed in amazement. "You're a genius."

Fred chuckled and continued to remove things from the basket, setting food, plates, and glasses out on the blanket. "I know. Now sit."

Sage nodded and plopped down on the blanket, her mouth-watering as she watched the food get revealed. She hadn't realized how hungry she'd gotten during the hike. It was nothing too fancy, just some sandwiches that she assumed he'd stolen from the kitchen and a couple of small bags of chips.

"Tada," he said as he sat her plate and food in front of her.

"Looks delicious," she said with a smile and started to unwrap her food.

"Wait," he said with a grin and reached into the basket for one last thing. He pulled out a bottle of red wine, raising his eyebrows in question and gesturing the bottle towards her. So that was what the glasses were for, then.

Sage chuckled. "Trying to get me drunk?".

Fred shrugged. "Maybe. You want some?".

Sage nodded and grabbed a plastic wine glass to hold out to him. "No amount of alcohol is going to make me put out tonight so don't get your hopes up."

Fred frowned and finished pouring her a generous glassful. "I still don't see why."

Sage took a sip of her wine, letting out a small moan at the taste. "First date. Not that girl."

Fred's face turned smug and he opened his mouth with raised eyebrows. "Well, actually-"

"Don't say it." She warned him with a stern look. "Say it and I'll push it back to the sixth date."

Fred's eyes widened comically. "Sixth? What was it originally going to be?".

Sage shrugged. "I dunno, I was thinking the third."

Fred groaned. "Fine, I won't say it." He paused and seemed to contemplate something for a moment. "How many dates do you think we can go on in a day?".

"Fred," she scolded and did her best to kick him in the leg with her nearest foot, too lazy to do much else. "I'll push it back further, I'm not kidding."

Fred held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Third date is plenty far enough for me."

Sage shook her head at him but couldn't help but chuckle.

They both tore into their sandwiches, sitting across from each other on the blanket as they ate and sipped at their wine. They chatted idly as they ate, both of them too hungry and busy scarfing down their food to focus on a conversation too complex.